Compass agent Karen DeMeco posted the company’s first REBNY residential awards gala win Wednesday night for a deal that saw her chasing a missing title document and then a mysteriously disappearing elderly client.
DeMeco asked around with the 84-year-old client’s doorman before calling local hospitals and eventually the New York City Police Department. The client was eventually found in a rehab facility with a broken hip but still managed to complete the transaction.
The deal won first prize in the “Deal of the Year” category. A beaming Robert Reffkin [TRDataCustom], Compass’ CEO, posted for photos with DeMeco following the event.
Some of the city’s top residential brokers came out in force for the gala at Pier 60, sipping cocktails, trading industry gossip and listening to Gloria Gaynor belt out, “I Will Survive.”
Warburg Realty’s Fred Peters worked the room in a “Miami Vice”-style white suit, while Scott Durkin accepted congratulations from colleagues on his appointment as COO of Douglas Elliman. Former Elliman top producer Toni Haber fielded questions on her recent jump to venture capital-backed brokerage Compass.
Winners of REBNY’s 28th Annual Residential Deal of the Year Awards for 2015-2016
Elliman office manager Yuval Greenblatt spoke of the strength of the penthouse market downtown, citing recent sales at 56 Leonard and 215 Chrystie Street.
At one point, a crowd protesting gentrification disrupted cocktail hour by storming in with placards and chanting, “REBNY, you can’t run, you can’t hide, we can see your greedy side.” (It’s also the same phrase protesters directed at Sam Zell last month.) The protesters were quickly ushered out of the facility by Chelsea Piers security.
Runners up for the “Deal of the Year” included Peter Michael Riolo and co-brokers Timothy Simmons and Scott Moore, of Brown Harris Stevens, who took second prize; and Neoly Lika Williams of Town Residential, who came in third. Reba Miller of RP Miller Realty Group and Emel Glicksman of Fox Residential Group took home the award for rentals.
Mirza Avdovic of Keller Williams NYC was awarded the “Rookie of the Year” title, while Ruth McCoy of Brown Harris Stevens got the Henry Forster Award for Lifetime Achievement. Bond New York’s Douglas Wagner was presented with the Eileen Spinola Award for Distinguished Service.